Corset.



Patented Feb. l2, 190i. L. S. REED.

C 0 R S E T.

(Application filed. Oct. 16, 1900.]

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Lilli l STARK REED, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

CDRSET.

SPEOIFI ATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 667,922, dated February 12, 1901.

' Application filed October 16, 1900, Serial No. 33,271. (No model.)

To (I/ZZ whom/ it YIZ/H/TJ concern:

Be it known that l, LIDA STARK REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented anew and useful Corset, of which the following is a specification,

My present invention relates to improvements in corsets, and has for one object to produce a garment of this character which will impart a full round appearance to the bust of the wearer and which will comprehend a back section little wider than a wide band and having its upper edge located so low that while the waist may be drawn in to any desired extentit will be impossible to constrict the upper portion of the body, and thereby obstruct the movement of the diaphragm. In other words, my object is to provide a corset which will impart a full round bust form without the use of pads, which will eliminate the usual unsightlyappearance presented by the upper edge of the corsets in the back, and which while permitting lacing at the waist will leave the diaphragm free to expand with every breath.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the fitting of the upper ends of the bust extensions closely against the form and their retention in such position by light shoulder-straps connected to said extensions and to the center of the back section, at the upper edge of the latter, to the end that the garment is compelled to retain its proper position irrespective of the degree of constriction at the waist.

To the accomplishment of these objects the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the corset, to be hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my garment. Fig. is a rear elevation of the suh ject-matter of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an inside View of the corset spread out.

Referring to the numerals employed to designate corresponding parts in the several views, 1 indicates the back section of a corset, suit-ably stiffened by vertically-disposed bones or steels 2 and preferably having its upper and lower edges slightly curved, as

shown. This back section is designed for location at the waist, wit-l1 its upper edge con siderably below the shoulder-blades in order to permit free movement of the diaphragm. To the opposite ends of the back section 1 are laced, as by lacings 3, the two front sections at and 5. The lower ends of these sections are formed in a manner similar to standard corsets, but their upper ends differ by being extended not only to a point opposite the fullness of the bust, but to a point adjacent to the shouldersthat is to say, the upper portions of the front sections comprise bustform, extensions 6 and 7, terminating in peaks 8 and 9, which extend a considerable distance above the bust. The peaks are separated at the center of the front in order to expose the shoulders and chest for the purpose of permitting free action of the respiratory organs and to permit the corset to be used in connection with low-cut outer garments or dresses.

The bust extensions are given a full round form by extending what may be termed the intermediate stays 10 and 11 of each front section continuously from the lower edge of the corset/to the extremities of the peaks 8 and 9, these stays being bent to impart the desired form to the whole front of the corset and additionally braced directly opposite the fullness of the bust by horizontally-disposed longitudinally-curved bust-stays 12 and 13, extending transversely across each of the bust extensions 6 and 7. The use of the stays 10 and 11 and 12 and 13 givesafull round form to each of the bust extensions in order that a shapely bust form may be seen red Without the use of pads. It will be evident, therefore, that these bust extensions will set away from the figure somewhat, and provision must therefore be made for preventing the dress from dropping back, which would of course present an unsightly appearance. It is for this reason that the extensions are terminated by the peaks 8 and 9, which extend upwardly to a point adjacent to the shoulders and are held snugly against the wearer by shoulder-straps 14 and 15, which are connected to the peaks and after being passed over the shoulders are secured at their lower ends to the upper edge of the back section 1, at the center of the latter, these ends being illustrated in Fig. 3.

preferably crossed, as

The lacings 3 are located, as shown, at the sides of the garment, which facilitates the drawing in of the waist, and the opposed front sections are connected by the usual hooks and eyes16, which extend from the lower edge of the corset to a point just under the bust, and by a clasp 17, located at the upper ends of the meeting edges.

From the foregoing it will appear that I have produced a novel corset which While permitting constriction of the waist without liability of injuring the respiratory organs will impart a full round bust form without the employment of additional pads; but while the present embodiment of the invention appears at this time to be preferable I wish to reserve the right to effect such structural variations as may be properly comprehended within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is--- Acorset comprising a narrow back section having substantially parallel top and bottom edges, separate front sections laced to the opposite ends of the back section by lacings located at the side of the corset, each of said front sections being provided with a bust extension designed to normally cover the bust and terminating in a peak located above the bust and adjacent to the shoulder, said bust extensions having their inner edges projecting from the ends of the peaks tothe upper edge of the corset at its middle, stays extending horizontally and vertically across each bust extension, the vertical stays terminatnating at the extremities of the peaks and at the lower edge of the corset, and straps connected at their opposite ends to the peaks and to the back section at the center of its upper edge, the upper edge of said back section being located in a plane wholly below the bust extensions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LIDA STARK REED.

Witnesses:

FRANCES S. PACKARD, S. N. REED. 

